Propeller



Sept; 11, "1923; 1,467,725

I. -HIGGS PROPELLER I Filed Sept. 6, 1922 Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES ISAAC HIGGS, 0F NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

PROPELLER.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC Hiees, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport News, in the county of WVarwick and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in propellers and an important object of the invention is to provide a propeller construction which lessens the frictional resistance of the water to the propeller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined shaft and propellerconstruction, the construction of the propeller and shaft being such that the formation of abrupt shoulders upon the shaft of the propeller is eliminated and accordingly a considerable head resistance removed as regards the ordinary construction of propeller and shaft. I g

A still further object of the invention is to provide a propeller construction which permits of a slight reduction in the over all diameter of the propeller and which eliminates the vibration of the propeller in churning of the water commonly presented.

An additional object of the invention is to a provide a device of this character which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable in service and a general improve ment in the art.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanyin drawings wherein for the purpose of ill ustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a propeller constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the hub portion of the propeller;

Figure 4 is a section on the line &4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the hub at right angles tothe view shown in Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates the hub of a propele, 1922. serial No. 586,511.

ler and 11 the blades thereof. In accordance with my invention the hub 10 is provided intermediate the blades '11 or the base portion of these blades with grooves 12, reducing the diameter of the hub and forming thereon shoulders or vanes 13 aligning with and having substantially the same pitch as the base portion of the blades with which they are integrally connected. In the formation ofthe grooves 12, the groove has its greatest depth at a point adjacent the front of the leading face of the vanes 13 so that these vanes are provided with an abrupt leading shoulder 14, the depth of the groove gradually tapering to the top of the next succeeding vane 13' so that a gradual trailing shoulder 15 is formed upon the vanes providing for the vanes a positive backing for resistance against pressure applied to the blades during rotation of the propeller. These grooves are extended throughout the length of the hub so that the shoulders or vanes 13 extend to the opposite ends of the hub,-terminating at such opposite ends in relatively abrupt tapered portions 16, which shoulders during rotation of the propeller form an entering wedge imparting a movement to the water which permits the blades 11 to engage therewith without the usual whipping vibration and without the usual churning action which the propeller has during rapid rotation.

I am aware that previous attempts have been made to accomplish these objects by continuing the metal of the blades to form a ridge or shoulder but in order to accomplish this the blade has been connected with the ridge or vane 13 a sufl icient extent to impart considerable movement to the water and thereby cause excessive slipping of the propeller in its action. Furthermore, the majority of these devices are defeated by reason of the fact that the vane 13 extends into the water at a point where it is in constant turmoil due to the fact that the forward end of the propeller hub is of considerably larger size than the shaft to which it is applied. In accordance with my invention I provide the shaft, indicated at 17 with rearwardly extending substantially conical enlargements 18. Beyond this conical enlargement the shaft is reduced to form a shoulder 19 abutting the end of the propeller hub and a tapered portion 20 adapted to fit within the tapered bore of the propeller. The shoulder 19 has its rear face of substantially the same diameter as the reduced diameter of the hub, caused by the formation of the grooves 12, and accordingly the water will not have any abrupt surfaces against which it will clash to cause disturbance but will engage smoothly with the hub thereby considerably relieving the ordinary frictional resistance present in practically all types of propellers with which I am familiar. i

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that a shaft and propeller construction in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use in that the reduction of friction and smooth engagement of the propeller accoi'nplished by this construction will materially increase the efficiency of the propeller to permit smooth operation thereof and thereby relieve the strain upon the machinery and generally reduce the operating cost of propeller mechanisms. It will turthern'iore be obvious that the construction as hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim cf 1. A propeller embodying-the usual hub and blades, the hub being provided inter-v mediate the bases of the blades with spiral grooves having the same pitch as the bases of the blades and of a width equal to the .a diameter substantially distance between adjacent faces of the bases of the blades, said groove-s reducing the diameter of the hub and forming thereon spiral vanes aligning with and having the same pitch as thebases of the blades.

2. A propeller embodying the usual huband blades, the hub being provided intermediate the bases of the blades with spiral grooves having the same pitch as the bases of the blades and of a width equal to the distance between adjacent faces of the bases of the blades, said grooves reducing the diameter of the hub and forming thereon spiral vanes aligning with and having the same pitch as the bases of the blades, said grooves having their greatest depth at a pointadjacent the leading face of said vanes and tapering in depth gradually to the next adjacent vane.

3. In combination with a propeller embodying the usual hub and blades, the hub being provided intermediate the bases of the blades with grooves forming vanes aligned with and having saibstantially the same pitch as the bases of the blades said hub having a bore and a shaft engaged with said bore and provided with atorwardly tapering enlargement havingits rear edge terminating in an abrupt shoulder having the samev as the diameter of said hub at the base of said grooves.

In testimony wherof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ISAAC HIGGS. 

